Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) North Carolina A&T State University

Application and admission to graduate programs at North Carolina A&T consist of a departmental evaluation based on your online application, recommendation letters, and unofficial copies of transcripts and other materials followed by a final review of all your original documents by the Graduate College. The departmental evaluation results in a recommendation to admit or reject the application. The final review concludes with a formal notification of the final decision from the Graduate College to the applicant.

All programs require the graduate admission application, application fee, academic transcripts, personal statement, and recommendation letters. Most programs also require a personal statement and graduate test scores. Some programs have additional requirements such as an on-campus interview.

Please note that satisfying minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission; admissions decisions are based on a competitive evaluation and are sometimes limited by capacity constraints.

Applicants must submit electronic copies of all documents required for admission to the online application portal. As needed, test scores must be transmitted by the testing agency to the Graduate College. The final official transcripts should be the only document mailed to the Graduate College; only transcripts mailed directly from the issuing institution will be accepted.

Notice for applicants from outside the State of North Carolina:

N.C. A&T is committed to ensuring compliance with state authorization requirements that govern the offering of online degree and certificate programs and courses in other states, including complaint processes. We strongly recommend that our prospective distance education students refer to the State Authorization page to determine whether N.C. A&T is authorized to provide postsecondary education in your state. N.C. A&T will continue to monitor developments in the jurisdictions in which it enrolls students, and, if authorization or licensure is or becomes necessary, it will obtain approvals or provide notice here of the jurisdictions in which it is authorized or not authorized to offer courses or programs.

Departmental Evaluation

Applicants should submit the following documents via the online application portal as early as possible.

1. Online application for admission to the Graduate College. The application is also accessible from the Graduate College’s website.
2. Application fee: Non-refundable application processing fee of $60. Payment can be made in the form of a check, money order, or certified check payable to North Carolina A&T State University. Credit card payments are accepted during the application process prior to submission. Cash payments may also be made in person at the Treasurer’s Office located on the 1st Floor, Dowdy Building. If paying through the Treasurer’s Office, please send a copy of the receipt to the Graduate College.
3. Transcripts: One unofficial copy of transcript(s)/mark sheet(s) from all colleges and universities previously attended must be uploaded on the application portal. An overall GPA of 3.0 in the bachelor's degree, a previously earned graduate degree or a GPA of 3.0 on at least 12 post-baccalaureate graduate credits is necessary (in addition to the other criteria outlined in the Graduate Catalog) for unconditional admission.
   • Applicants with transcript(s) from US colleges/universities must upload a copy of the transcript(s).
   • Applicants with transcript(s) from institutions outside the US: Applicants will need to have an English translation and course-by-course evaluation of their transcript(s)/mark sheet(s) performed by WES or ECE (WES.org/ECE.org) and have the agency transmit this document directly to the Graduate College.
4. Recommendations: Three recommendations are expected. Enter the required information (name, email, etc.) for each recommender to allow the recommendation form to be accessible from the application portal. The recommendation form is available online once the recommender signs in to the application portal. Admissions committees prefer to see recommendations from current or former professors and/or supervisors at your place of work.
5. One unofficial copy of graduate test scores (GRE/GMAT) if required by the program.
6. Personal statement of interest in the program, as required. The statement should describe career goals, research interests, and a list of publications, experience, academic honors, and organizations tailored to the program of interest for review by the admission committee.
7. English language proficiency: International applicants are required to provide evidence of English language proficiency. International applicants may satisfy this requirement by one of the following:
   • Submit an acceptable score on TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. The official TOEFL score (at least 80 or higher internet-based score) or IELTS score (6.0 or higher) or PTE Academic score (53 or higher) should be submitted directly from the testing agency to the Graduate College. TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE scores are reportable for a period of two years from the date of the exam. If the scores are older than two years, the student must re-take the exam.
   • Enroll in intensive English language training courses prior to seeking admission to a degree program. An applicant successfully completing ALA or Interlink English Level 5 requirement will have met N.C. A&T’s English language proficiency requirement for admission. For information on application and costs, please see http://nc.interlink.edu/ for Interlink Language Center or http://www.ala.edu/ for American Language Academy. These organizations are separate from N.C. A&T, and provide training in English pronunciation, grammar, writing, etc. The cost of English training is billed separately and will be incurred prior to and in addition to the cost of education at N.C. A&T. For questions not answered by the websites, contact Interlink at 336-334-4700 or American Language Academy at 336-285-7318.
   • N.C. A&T Graduate College recognizes recent completers of a CEA-accredited language academy (http://cea-accredit.org/accredited-sites) at a level that satisfies its affiliated graduate institution’s unconditional admission language proficiency requirements.

Additional Admission Requirements

• At least one degree in Engineering or Computer Science.
• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or Computer Science from an ABET-accredited program with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above or Master of Science degree in a discipline related to Industrial & Systems Engineering with a cumulative GPA of 3.3
• A Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Aptitude Exam score
• approved Bachelor of Science or Engineering degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Working knowledge of statistics, matrices, or linear algebra, and experience in programming are desirable.

Admission Deadlines

Fall Admissions Priority Application Deadline is January 15th. The priority deadline is the date by which complete applications with all required documents must be submitted to receive priority review for merit-based graduate awards and for admission to space-constrained graduate programs.

The general application deadline for international applicants is May 15th for Fall admission and September 15th for Spring Admission. General Deadline is the date by which all application materials including original documents must be received by the Graduate College for admission decision.

Some academic programs have earlier deadlines, in which case the complete application must be submitted by the posted departmental deadline.

The Ph.D. program generally takes 4 years to complete. The duration may take longer depending on thesis/dissertation topic, writing, and research.

Total credit hours: 69 (post-baccalaureate)

• Core courses (12 credits): ISEN 625, 655, 665, 675
• ISEN specified courses (12 credits): Select 12 credit hours from ISEN 721, 812, 813, 814, 821 or ISEN 833, 841, 852, 853
• ISEN courses (12 credits): Take additional 12 credit hours of graduate-level ISEN courses with the approval of the advisor
• Engineering courses (12 credits): Take 12 credit hours of additional engineering courses at 700 or 800 level with the approval of the advisor
• At least 21 course credits should be at 800 level
• Seminar (3 credits): Take ISEN 992 three times in three semesters
• Dissertation (18 credits): ISEN 997
• Pass qualifying exam, preliminary exam, dissertation defense

Total credit hours: min 45 (post-Master)

• Core courses*: ISEN 625, 655, 665, 675
• ISEN specified courses*: Select 12 credit hours from ISEN 721, 812, 813, 814, 821 or ISEN 833, 841, 852, 853
• ISEN courses*: Take additional 12 credit hours of graduate-level ISEN courses with the approval of the advisor
• Engineering courses*: Take 12 credit hours of additional engineering courses at 700 or 800 level with the approval of the advisor
• At least 21 course credits should be at 800 level
• Seminar (3 credits): Take ISEN 992 three times in three semesters
• Dissertation (18 credits): ISEN 997
• Pass qualifying exam, preliminary exam, dissertation defense

*Number of credits/courses varies due to the number of credits a student can transfer from the Master’s degree. The student must consult with the Graduate Program Director to initiate the credit transfer process, which will be reviewed and decided by the ISE Graduate Program Committee.

Dissertation Research

A student may not register for dissertation credits before passing the Qualifying Examination. No more than 18 dissertation credits are counted toward the total credit hours required for the degree.

Qualifying Examination

The Qualifying Examination is given to assess the student’s competence in a broad range of relevant subject areas. Only students with unconditional status and in good academic standing may take the Qualifying Examination. A student who wants to retake the Qualifying Examination must apply to retake the Qualifying Examination by the posted deadline. No student is permitted to take the Qualifying Examination more than twice. A student not recommended for re-examination or who fails the exam on a second attempt may be dismissed from the doctoral program.

Preliminary Oral Examination

The Preliminary Oral Examination is conducted by the student's dissertation committee and is a defense of the student’s dissertation proposal. Passing this exam satisfies the requirements for Ph.D. Candidacy. Failure on the examination may result in dismissal from the doctoral program. The student's Advisory Committee may permit one re-examination. At least one full semester must elapse before the re-examination. Failure on the second attempt will result in dismissal from the doctoral program.

Admission to Candidacy

Students will be admitted to candidacy upon successful completion of the Qualifying Exam and the Preliminary Oral Exam.

Final Oral Examination

The Final Oral Examination is conducted by the student's dissertation committee. This examination is the final dissertation defense presentation that is scheduled after a dissertation is completed. The examination may be held no earlier than one semester (or four months) after admission to candidacy. Failure on the examination may result in dismissal from the doctoral program. The student's Advisory Committee may permit one re-examination. At least one full semester must elapse before the re-examination. Failure on the second attempt will result in dismissal from the doctoral program.

Submission of Dissertation

Upon passing the Ph.D. Final Oral Examination, the Ph.D. student must have the dissertation approved by each member of the student's dissertation committee. The approved dissertation must be submitted to The Graduate College by the deadline given in the academic calendar, and must conform to the Graduate College’s guidelines for theses and dissertations.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and Systems Engineering program will prepare graduates to:

• Demonstrate broad knowledge of industrial and systems engineering sub-disciplines and deep knowledge of a specific sub-discipline.
• Effectively teach industrial and systems engineering methods and tools.
• Independently perform research with mentoring from a faculty member.
• Decompose systems into component parts and logically model and evaluate using mathematical, statistical and computational tools.
• Construct and improve integrated systems or processes consisting of people, materials, information, equipment, and energy considering life cycle factors.
• Formulate and solve multi-objective problems using industrial and systems engineering methods and tools.
• Communicate Industrial and Systems Engineering research information in written, oral, and presentation formats.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) program prepares students for successful careers as teachers, researchers, and leaders in academia, industry, and the public sector. The program emphasizes the systems engineering, collaboration, and engagement skills critical to addressing the complex societal problems of tomorrow. ISE graduate students tackle these problems in a supportive environment working with nationally-recognized faculty.

Industrial and System Engineers apply problem-solving and design skills to every kind of organization. Therefore, ISEs are hired for hardcore manufacturing companies such as aerospace, electronics, automobile, and food processing as well as for service industries such as banks, hospitals, governments, and transportation agencies. Virtually any organization may use the skills that industrial engineers possess. Some examples of ISE jobs include:

• Production Supervisor
• Manufacturing Engineer
• Operations Manager
• Human Factors Specialist
• Supply Chain Manager
• Logistics Specialist
• Technical Sales Engineer
• Systems Analyst